I was looking at theme park attendance numbers from TEA, to get a sense of the impact of significant investments in the parks, as was the case with WWoHP and the DCA makeover. From 2008 to 2013-the interval which saw the completion the DCA makeover-attendance increased at that park by 3 million people. This represents a 53% change. In that same period, IoA opened WWoHP, and attendance improved by just under 3 million guests, representing a 54% improvement. In both those very similar cases, attendance changes essentially stopped after 5 years. Last year, DCA had a 3% increase, while IoA had a 0% change. The growth can’t last forever, but new annual benchmarks have been set at those 2 parks, 50%+ above where they were just 5 years prior. (Even MK attendance has increased by 1.7 million, or 11%, the past 2 years simply with the NFL addition, which was not expected to increase numbers, but simply disperse crowds more evenly in the park. It seems as though if you build stuff, people will come.)
Clearly, investing a billion dollars or two in quality attractions can provide a very significant return in terms of guest numbers. With all the money that has been announced or rumored for WDW, I am curious as to what my fellow WDWMagicians (is that what we are?) think the attendance effect will be for any or all of the following:
1. DHS (SWL/TSL/Phase 3/entertainment changes, etc.)
2. DAK (Pandora/RoL/Night safari/entertainment changes, etc.)
3. Epcot (Frozen ride and meet-and-greet/Soarin’ Over the World/$350 million investment-rumor)
4. MK (Frontierland expansion-rumor/$350 million investment-rumor)
5. Downtown Disney to Disney Springs
My thoughts are as follows:
1. Huge increase when done. I’m not sure about a 50%+ increase (that would be more than 5 million people), but I can see a jump from 10.3 million in 2014, to 14 million in 2020.
2. Even though many people will stay longer, I believe the year after Pandora is open will see the park increase attendance from 10.4 million guests in 2014, to 12 million. (In 2006, park attendance increased by 700,000 and all that opened that year was one attraction, Expedition Everest).
3. This one will be interesting. How many families with youngish children who skipped Epcot in the past, will go now simply for the Frozen offerings? I have no idea. So, my guess is that the increase will not be huge…perhaps half a million or so.
4. If both these things happen, it wouldn’t surprise me if MK is at 21 million (from 19.3 million in 2014) by the 50th anniversary in 2021.
5. I expect a huge increase in the number of visitors from 2013, to its completion next year. There are so many new, quality offerings compared to what was there before, I know that I'll spend significantly more time and money than before (and we always went twice per trip, for 3-4 hours each time)
I’d really love to hear the thoughts of my wise peeps here on the boards.
Cheers.
Clearly, investing a billion dollars or two in quality attractions can provide a very significant return in terms of guest numbers. With all the money that has been announced or rumored for WDW, I am curious as to what my fellow WDWMagicians (is that what we are?) think the attendance effect will be for any or all of the following:
1. DHS (SWL/TSL/Phase 3/entertainment changes, etc.)
2. DAK (Pandora/RoL/Night safari/entertainment changes, etc.)
3. Epcot (Frozen ride and meet-and-greet/Soarin’ Over the World/$350 million investment-rumor)
4. MK (Frontierland expansion-rumor/$350 million investment-rumor)
5. Downtown Disney to Disney Springs
My thoughts are as follows:
1. Huge increase when done. I’m not sure about a 50%+ increase (that would be more than 5 million people), but I can see a jump from 10.3 million in 2014, to 14 million in 2020.
2. Even though many people will stay longer, I believe the year after Pandora is open will see the park increase attendance from 10.4 million guests in 2014, to 12 million. (In 2006, park attendance increased by 700,000 and all that opened that year was one attraction, Expedition Everest).
3. This one will be interesting. How many families with youngish children who skipped Epcot in the past, will go now simply for the Frozen offerings? I have no idea. So, my guess is that the increase will not be huge…perhaps half a million or so.
4. If both these things happen, it wouldn’t surprise me if MK is at 21 million (from 19.3 million in 2014) by the 50th anniversary in 2021.
5. I expect a huge increase in the number of visitors from 2013, to its completion next year. There are so many new, quality offerings compared to what was there before, I know that I'll spend significantly more time and money than before (and we always went twice per trip, for 3-4 hours each time)
I’d really love to hear the thoughts of my wise peeps here on the boards.
Cheers.
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I know the parks can handle a lot and have capacity phases to control it, but I feel that the parks are pretty busy all year long now with the exception of maybe a couple of times now...maybe. It's crazy to imagine that the parks (and then the resorts and the restaurants of course) will become even busier with these new additions over the next many years, but they will.
